Hi all, if you're reading this, you're at the new go-faster-stripey version of FIB UK. If you could take a moment to comment below on what you think to the makeover, we'd really appreciate it - particularly if it looks like a bug-ridden mess in your browser! Thanks and enjoy...

As a bit of an informal introduction to the new site, how about some recommendations of good bands to see? At the end of this entry there's a 'comments' section for you to post your own thoughts, but here are mine:











Thursday's FIBStart event is something I'd definitely recommend everyone attends. After a few days chilling out at the beach, the bars, and Aquarama, it's a gentle introduction to the more full-on program of events to follow. Last year saw some great sets, notably Felix Da Housecat's closing DJ set. It all takes place on the biggest outdoor main stage, which means there aren't any difficult decisions to make - you can watch everything, basically. Aldo Linares opens the FIB every year with a short DJ set. To be honest I've never made it down there early enough to check him out, but I'm sure it's all great. Some other bands I'm not so sure of follow - I'd be particularly interested in hearing anyone's thoughts on The Posies, as I'm definitely thinking of giving them a go. The Polyphonic Spree are an ideal, if also very surreal, festival band. If you haven't seen them yet, throw out any prejudice and go and have a look. It's seriously uplifting, fun stuff. Not to be missed. Then you've got one of the FIB's residents, Brett Anderson, returning with Bernie Butler as The Tears. It's safe to say that if you were never a Suede fan, this won't be your cup of tea, but for every cringeworthy Anderson lyric, there's an absolutely cracking melody from Butler to cancel it out. Underworld should be just the thing to top off a decent opening night. A few of those 5 euro buckets of lager, and Born Slippy and the rest should go down a treat!















Friday, and things start getting a bit busier. The Cure are a fantastic late addition to the line up, and their last showing in 2002 was apparently something of legend, and with their most recent album a definite return to tune-making form, this is one definitely not to be missed. Robert Smith & Co are still treated as heroes, rather than relics, in Europe, so the crowd response should be something special. Basement Jaxx pulled off the impressive feat of providing a decent replacement for Kylie at Glastonbury, and a similarly hit-packed set should go down a storm. I'll personally be avoiding Athlete's turgid Christian Rock sound, but might give Mando Diao a look.

Things are more interesting in the tents: It's a veritable 2002 reunion as Fischerspooner and Peaches headline the Hellomoto tent - both should be top shows if nothing else. Lemon Jelly are less to my tastes, but should provide some good value earlier in the evening. The chemistry between The Kills is legendary, and their second album No Wow gives us some tunes to back up the hype. Doves headline the smallest proper tent, in an unusual scheduling decision - the intimate setting should make this much more special than the bigger stages we're used to seeing them on. Joseph Arthur is an emerging singer-songwriter with some massive tunes. You've probably heard a track or two of his on some glossy American drama or other, but there's potential far beyond that. Certainly a cut above others of his ilk. For the more experimentally minded, Prefuse 73 and Four Tet should prove a decent bet. If you can stay up as late as undoubtedly will be required, the Wall of Sound night should be an unmissable bit of dance action - with Trash's Erol Alkan hopefully providing the tunes.















Saturday's main stage is a curious mix of new and old. Avoid Keane like the plague. The very recently reformed Lemonheads and Dinosaur Jr. on the same stage is definitely raising a few hopes among the surviving grunge-pop fraternity. Radio 4 will deliver some rousing if unspectacular electro-punk, but it's The Raveonettes who should really make an impact. Their 2003 set in the fiberfib.com tent was something of real show-stealing beauty, and if they can transfer this to the bigger stage, it should be one of the events of the weekend.

More Electro in the Hellomoto tent with !!!, essentially a much better version of Radio 4 but still not quite all that. Ladytron, on the other hand, should be another real highlight. Top class Electro-pop, great tunes and minimal faffing or posturing. Larry Tee invented Electroclash in 2002, or so he says. Whether this is a good thing, or a very very bad one is a moot point, but he should spin some decent records for hipsters who've been asleep a few years. Kaiser Chiefs have been winning over audiences at massive shows all over the place, and their early "headline" slot should be an energetic talking point, if nothing else. Erland Oye seems to have been pottering around Benicassim for the last few years doing this and that, and he finally turns up with his real band, Kings of Convenience. Not sure if quiet is still the new loud, but plenty of tasteful tunes should dispel any such worries. On a quirkier note, I'm very much looking forward to checking out Devendra Banhart, at the forefront of the weirder angle that acoustic-y music is taking these days. Richard Hawley, Sheffield veteran erstwhile of the Longpigs and later-period Pulp, is in a sublime class of his own. The perfect complement to the Raveonettes upbeat rock'n'roll, Hawley takes all the best of fifties American rock balladeers, and transmutes them without a blink into bleak soundscapes of northern England. A true legend, even if I'm the only one who thinks so! The Robocop Kraus, playing later on the same stage, are a relatively rocking band by the FIB's standard, with a few token bleeps plugging them uncomfortably amongst the likes of tedious electro purveyors Ascii Disko. Should be an interesting one.















Sunday sees a bit of lad rock taking over, with Oasis and Kasabian at the forefront. A worthy antidote to this should be the none more Goth Nick Cave. A decent main stage line up is completed by the consistently excellent Hot Hot Heat, and a definitely Regaining Their Edge LCD Soundsystem.

Hellomoto Sunday is a reasonably dance dominated affair, with Mylo sure to be a highlight, and Andrew Weatherall spinning some classic house and bringing the early nineties back to life. Continuing this theme are the revived Wedding Present. Ones to watch on the smaller stages include the effervescent Maximo Park, pitched midpoint between the Futureheads and Gene, if that sounds at all feasible. Elsewhere you've got the endearingly crazy Daniel Johnston making a return, and all the coolness in the world under one tent as LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy brings DFA Records to Benicassim for a night.

Should be a good one, don't you reckon?